Dodgers Sixth Inning Surge Holds Off Padres 4/24/21
We’ve seen the same matchups from the previous series through these first two games and tonight’s game was no different. We got Bauer vs. Snell part two, and it did not disappoint. In case you missed it from their last outing, Snell commented on the mound, and the damage Bauer did to it. It was a tense game even after a sixth inning surge from the Dodgers to pull ahead, leaving Dodger fans breathless until the last pitch.
Early Blasts Against Bauer by Tatís
Tatís, who swung a hot bat last night, started tonight’s game off with a leadoff home run. He mocked Bauer as he was rounding first base when he looked at his dugout and covered one of his eyes. But Bauer recovered and set down the next three batters in order, striking out Grisham as well as Machado who has owned Bauer throughout his career. Bauer said he would make adjustments this outing against Machado, and he did just that. Bauer threw only sliders to Machado tonight and struck him out twice and hit into a ground out.
Myers led off the second inning with a base hit and would eventually come around to score, giving the Padres a 2-0 lead. Bauer would retire the next 11 batters before giving up ANOTHER solo shot to Tatís. Who, of course, mocked Bauer once again, this time with the strut as he crossed home plate. Bauer struck out Myers to end the inning and his night after the 6th. Bauer’s final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 2 HR.
Dodger Bats Wake Up
The Dodgers’ offense finally showed some life in the third inning. Mookie started the two-out rally with a base hit to left field. Seager and Turner also singled, cutting the score in half to 2-1. Smith should’ve drawn a walk to load the bases, but an awful call from the umpire on a pitch that was inches off the plate ended the inning.
Pollock began the fourth inning with a ground ball to left field. He moved into scoring position when Muncy drew a four-pitch walk. Pollock’s first stolen base of the season ends up being a big one stealing third. On the throw down to try and catch him, it gets away from Machado, allowing Muncy to take second. Snell gave the Dodgers a huge break when a swinging bunt from Neuse was clearly going foul, and Snell picked it up allowing every runner to be safe, and Pollock scored to tie it up 2-2.
Sixth Inning Surge
A sixth-inning surge brought back some memories from October. Snell didn’t give up a hit this time, but after retiring Muncy, his night was over, and the Dodgers was just beginning. Pierce Johnson came into pitch, and Neuse immediately punched one back up the middle for a base hit. The Dodgers pinch hitters had yet to record a hit this season, and that changed when Taylor and Beaty pinch-hit in the inning and hit back-to-back singles, loading the bases for Betts. Mookie walks on five pitches, and the Padres make another pitching change. Seager went down 0-2 before hitting a grounder to right field, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night.
Things got a bit dicey in the 7th when González walked Cronenworth to start the inning. Caratini would go onto single, ending González’s night. Treinen came into pitch, and Pham singled on a blooper to Mookie in right, putting the tying run on second with one out. A wild pitch was all it took for the Padres to bring home a run, cutting the Dodgers lead to 5-4. Treinen would strike out Tatís and Grisham to end the inning and strand the tying run on third.
Jansen Gets Four Outs
After stranding the go-ahead run in the eighth, Jansen needed three more outs to lock up the win and pick up his fifth save of the season. He struck out Caratini for the first out and then walked Campusano. The tying run put on base for no one other than Tatís. Mateo pinch-run for Campusano and stole second, breaking up the potential double-play ball and putting the tying run in scoring position. Tatís would hit a slow grounder to Muncy playing up the middle for the second out. With the tying run on third, Jansen struck out Grisham to end the game!
Jansen didn’t have the velocity we saw in Seattle, but he stayed in the game and buckled down and helped the Dodgers bring home a much-needed win.
They’ll look to finish with a series tie tomorrow at 4:08 PM PDT on ESPN for Sunday Night Baseball, with Dustin May starting.
For last night’s recap, click here.
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